Pod Technology and Sustainability
Three reasons why we believe in producing coffee in sustainable pods:
The Technology
A pod machine is an amazing piece of engineering, which maximises every gram of coffee
Why We Like Compostable Pods
Compostable coffee pods can produce an amazing coffee whilst protecting the environment
Global Coffee Production
The growing areas and climate of key coffee-growing regions are undergoing significant changes due to climate change, which means…
The Technology
The mechanics of coffee pods, combined with pod machines, are an ingenious blend of complex engineering and precision. When the pod is inserted, the machine pierces the pod’s top and bottom base.
Hot water is then forced through the pod. As the coffee grounds are wetted, they expand, and this creates the critical extraction pressures that ensure the essential oils and flavours of the coffee are extracted.
The lid ruptures at a pre-determined pressure, and the brewed coffee exits the pod machine via a waffle plate that ensures a strong creme. The green coffee beans must be roasted and ground differently, and specifically to suit the pod extraction process.
A pod machine is an amazing piece of technology, which is capable of producing up to 19 bars of pressure. This is why a pod machine is able to extract such a flavourful coffee out of a small pod. Each coffee pod contains around 5.5g of coffee, whilst your café barista can use anywhere between 9g to 18g per cup.
Why We Like Compostable Pods
Pod options available on the market range from plastic to aluminium to compostable.
Each of the of plastic and aluminium can provide options for recyclability. There is a practical reality, however, that many pods make it to landfill due to the effort required to recycle each individual pod. It is estimated less than 30% of pods make their way to a recycling option. Aluminium can take 150-500 years to break down whilst plastic only breaks down to smaller micro plastics.
Our compostable pods are manufactured from compostable resins. broadly, these resins are made from different starches such as corn, potato, cereals and other biological sources.
To date, we have used industrial compostable pods, certified to the Australian Standard AS 4736-2006. These pods are certified to are able to broken down composted in an industrial facility within 90 days. We have partnered with preferred suppliers to ensure the pods we use have equivalent flavour and freshness profiles to the best pods on the market. This ensures a coffee consumer does not need to sacrifice flavour to enjoy an eco-conscious cup.
It takes more than roasted and ground coffee and a pod to make a great cup of coffee, the lid and the lid seal to the pod, and how the lid, in combination with the roasted and ground coffee and how the pod functions, that ensure the best extraction performance.
In late 2025 we will be introducing the world’s first industrial compostable lid film that is made from unbleached paper, with compostable barrier and heat seal layer. This has been in development for several years, as developing a compostable lid film that performs the same critical functions as aluminium lid foil has been very difficult, may have tried and have failed.
The use of unbleached paper on our compostable lids, enable us to etch customisable brand logos on the lids for product recognition. This etching is done inline during packing and changes the paper pigment colour from brown to white, without damaging the barrier properties or functionality of the lids, another world first!
Coming Soon!
We are excited to announce our pending launch of Earthpods. Following multiple years of research and searching the globe for the best materials and partners, we are soon to launch what we believe is the best home compostable pod available on market. This combines best-in-class pod performance to deliver a great tasting coffee with market leading composability for the best environmental outcome. We are seeking early adopters who want to be first to market with this game changing coffee pod.
Our aim to provide compostable coffee pods that extract as good, and if not better than all other coffee pods, be they made from aluminium or plastic. So you can enjoy a great cup of coffee and minimise the environmental impact. ☕️
Global Coffee Production
There are lots of challenges that coffee producers are facing today. Here is a summary:
Shrinking Suitable Land
Many traditional coffee-growing regions, especially those producing Arabica beans (which are more climate-sensitive), are seeing declining suitability due to:
- Rising temperatures
- Erratic rainfall
- Increased pests and diseases (like coffee leaf rust and the coffee borer beetle)
This is affecting countries like Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, and Vietnam—some of the world’s largest producers.
Temperature Increases
- Arabica coffee thrives at temperatures between 18–21°C (64–70°F).
- Warmer temps are pushing coffee production uphill, into cooler, higher-elevation areas that were previously too cold.
- Lower-altitude farms are becoming less productive or are switching to Robusta, which tolerates more heat.
Rainfall Changes
- More unpredictable rainy seasons and droughts affect flowering and bean development.
- In places like East Africa, rainfall patterns have become so inconsistent that farmers struggle to plan planting and harvesting
Pests & Diseases on the Rise
- Warmer and wetter conditions encourage pests like the coffee borer beetle and diseases like coffee leaf rust to thrive at higher altitudes and in new regions.
- Outbreaks have devastated farms in Central America and South America in the past decade.
Geographical Shifts
- Some areas, like parts of East Africa (e.g., Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania) and highland regions of Asia (e.g., northern Thailand, China’s Yunnan province) may become more suitable for growing coffee as climate warms.
- But this also means traditional producers might lose competitiveness or need to adapt fast.
In summary, the more we can do to make every kilogram of green beans go further is going to help secure our coffee experience for the future.
Join Us in the Journey to Brew a More Sustainable, Flavourful Future—One Coffee Pod at a Time.
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